M4 and M5 safety enhancement work nears completion

Safety upgrades to a six-mile section of motorway around the Almondsbury interchange started in February 2023

Work to enhance safety on the M4 and M5 motorways is nearing completion, with roadworks on the M4 set to be removed before Easter, National Highways said.

Upgrades to a six-mile section of motorway around the Almondsbury interchange near Bristol started in February 2023.

Delivered by SMP Alliance, the work included building three new emergency areas on the M5 and upgrades to traffic signs for drivers.

Nick Wells, from National Highways, said: “Road users will soon benefit from the range of measures implemented on this scheme."

National Highways said the roadworks on the M4 are set to be removed ahead of the Easter getaway

The other work included renewing lighting, drainage work and upgrading a four-mile section of steel barrier to a concrete one on the M4 near junctions 19 and 20 for Bristol.

Mr Wells said the concrete barriers are "stronger than metal ones" and will "significantly reduce the risk of vehicles crossing over from one carriageway to another, improving safety and reducing the duration of incident-related congestion".

While enhancements on the M5 are almost complete, work to waterproof, surface and repair two bridges between junctions 15 and 16 on the motorway will continue until the summer, with traffic restrictions in place heading north.

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